Donna Mae Magnuson Whitlow

Donna Mae Magnuson was born on May 23, 1933, in Haley, South Dakota at the family farm. Both of her parents were from Sweden and Donna was the baby of 7 children in this new American family. She loved the farm life with all the animals. She enjoyed telling all the stories of growing up in the big family. Donna, along with her father and mother left the farm and moved to Astoria, Oregon to attend high school. Her mother had heart disease and passed away before Donna graduated from High School.

Upon graduation, Donna moved to Eugene, Oregon to go to Business College. While driving her dad’s new car, William LaFond Whitlow saw her from the corner. She was the most beautiful girl he had even seen he would say! Eventually they met and got married in 1953. Both graduated from Eugene Bible College. Two years later their first daughter Debra Diane Whitlow was born and another two years later, Cathleen Denise Whitlow was welcomed to the family. The young family moved to Montego Bay, Jamaica With Open Bible Churches. A couple years later they were transferred to San Fernando, Trinidad where William was the President of the Bible College and directed the 75 island churches. Donna led the large choir and taught in the Bible College.

They left the island after several years and moved back to America. Donna had become very sick and was given two weeks to move back to the USA. After a few months of recovery, they moved to Phoenix, AZ to pastor a church. Eventually, they were invited to pastor Biltmore Bible Church on east Camelback Road (now Redemption Church Arcadia). A third daughter Lisa Mae Whitlow was born in 1967. Donna continued her education and received a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Her passion has always been for children. Biltmore Bible Day Care and Kindergarten was opened, which had up to 80 students. This was her element, helping young mothers with their children during formative years. She also had a summer program for kids up to 10 years old. After over 30 years as the Director of the school Donna retired at 75 years old. Bill always had a heart for missions. He had attained four Doctorate degrees. He felt led to develop a Bible School in a box from the admissions papers to graduation certificate and donate it to churches around the world free of charge. Their church would raise the funds each time a new college was requested and donate the school. Bill felt that the Bible and Biblical education should be free to all. He worked with other Christian authors and got the Biltmore Bible School of Theology accredited through a university in Florida. At the time of Bill’s passing in 2017 over 500 colleges were established around the world. Bill and Donna loved to travel around the world. They especially enjoyed traveling to attend many of the graduations throughout Africa and Asia.

After nearly 65 years of marriage Donna lost the love of her life. She was diagnosed with extreme grief. After she recovered Donna traveled with Debbie to Tahiti on a 10-day cruise around the islands. Surrounded by the beauty of the islands, Donna was most interested in meeting the locals and especially their children. She was always very active and on a trip to Puerto Vallarta at 85 she was para sailing over the ocean. Celebrating her 86th birthday, enjoying the mountains of Colorado Donna suffered a severe stroke which affected her left side of her body. Doctors said she would not survive. She was air vacated back to Phoenix. She would not give up. Although she was paralyzed on her left side and confined to a wheelchair, she enjoyed the last 3 ½ years at Sunrise Senior Living of Scottsdale with an incredible team that cared for her. Donna Mae Whitlow passed on to Heaven on February 14th, Valentine’s Day to rejoin her beloved Bill.

The family appreciates all the love, visits and prayers you have given during her last few years. We remember her for her Love, Wisdom and powerful Prayers...

Donna is survived by her three children, Debra Whitlow Reasy (husband Charles Reasy), Cathleen Whitlow Corallo (husband Jeffrey Corallo) Lisa Whitlow Dummel (husband David Dummel), four grandchildren, Dustin Corallo, Alexander Corallo, Jared Reasy (wife Jordan Reasy), Whitney Reasy Fisher (husband Justin Fisher) and five great grandchildren. Enoch Reasy, King Reasy, Earnest Reasy, Magnuson Ford Reasy and Jacqueline Fisher.

A celebration of life for Donna will be held Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Redemption Church Arcadia, 3330 E Camelback Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85018.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greenacresmortuary.net for the Whitlow family.